Students completing the two-semester Phlebotomy Program will be prepared to perform routine and special blood collection procedures as well as process specimens prior to testing in a modern clinical laboratory. A consecutive three-week, 120 hour clinical practicum is an essential and required component of this certificate program. Clinical practicum hours are scheduled Monday through Friday during day time hours.

Students should be prepared to travel one hour or more to an assigned clinical site

A phlebotomist must demonstrate interpersonal skills, enjoy science, and enjoy working with the public.

Essential Functions

The Phlebotomy program essential functions include cognitive, physical and behavioral abilities which are necessary to perform the duties of a professional phlebotomist. In order to meet the course requirements, students must possess the following basic abilities:

Cognitive ability sufficient to learn and use the body of knowledge necessary to meet the program curriculum requirements and attain career entry status in the profession.

Physical ability, sufficient mobility and motor coordination to safely collect and process patient specimens, process specimens and use a computer.

Applicants must possess a high school diploma or a state-approved high school equivalency credential.

Students applying to the program having earned a high school diploma must demonstrate a minimum grade point average of 2.0. Prerequisite courses include high school chemistry or biology and a math course with a minimum grade “C“.

Students applying to the program with a state-approved high school equivalency credential (HISET) must demonstrate a score of 45 with a minimum score of 8 in math and a minimum score of 8 in science. HISET students must take the required prerequisite courses prior to being considered for admission to the program.

Students applying to the program with a G.E.D. must demonstrate an overall score of 2500 with a minimum score of 500 in math and a minimum score of 500 in science. G.E.D. Students must take the required prerequisite courses prior to being considered for admission to the program.

If a student has passed a state-approved high school equivalency credential, but does not meet the minimum score requirements, they may alternatively meet this qualification by earning the required high school GPA/minimum grade in the pre-admission requirement courses as follows:

GPA of 2.0 in the following two courses or equivalents: high school chemistry or biology, high school math

Students must carry personal health insurance, professional liability insurance, and have current CPR certification by the American Heart Association, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers.

A ten-panel random drug screen is required upon entrance. The fee is paid by the student.

Please be advised that although Massachusetts law permits the use of medical marijuana and the possession, use, distribution and cultivation of marijuana in limited amounts, any possession, use, distribution or cultivation of marijuana remains prohibited under College policy pursuant to federal law. Further, any student who tests positive for marijuana will be ineligible for clinical placement. Please refer to the College's Student Handbook for the College's complete Marijuana Policy.

Upon admission to the program, all students must undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check and a drug screen performed by a facility under contract with Bristol Community College. These checks are required due to potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly during a clinical experience. Students found to have certain criminal convictions or pending criminal actions will be presumed ineligible for clinical placement. The College is authorized by the Commonwealth's Department of Criminal Justice to access CORI records. Sex Offender checks shall be performed pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 6, Sections 178C-178P.

A positive CORI/SORI and/or drug screen may prevent students from working in contracted health facilities, which will prevent students from completing the program objectives.

Additional Costs

Students accepted into the program are responsible for associated costs such as uniforms, name tags, random ten-panel drug test, safety supplies, transportation to and from clinical assignments and certification examination application fees.

Grade Requirements

MED 101 includes 45 hours of lecture. A minimum grade of “C” is required in MED 101 to progress to PLB 102. PLB 102 includes 45 hours of lecture/lab, plus 120 hours of clinical training following completion of the didactic and laboratory components. Students must achieve a minimum of “C” in the on-campus lecture and lab component of PLB 102 in order to progress to the clinical practicum component. A minimum grade of a “C” in the clinical practicum is required to receive a passing grade in the course and consequently in the program.

Students are eligible to reapply one time only through the Admissions Office.

Clinical Affiliation

Students will be assigned to an affiliate agency for a 120 hour clinical practicum. The practicum is a consecutive three week experience that is scheduled during the first shift (day), Monday through Friday. This is a full time commitment during those three weeks (5 days per week, 8 hours per day for 3 consecutive weeks). Students enrolled in a concurrent program may not register for courses that will conflict with the clinical practicum. Students must plan their schedules accordingly. Transportation to clinical affiliation sites is the responsibility of the student. Students should be prepared to travel an hour or more from campus. The availability of clinical affiliations depends on the area healthcare providers' ability to accept students.

Successful completion of program objectives is required to receive the Certificate of Recognition in Phlebotomy from Bristol Community College. Students who accomplish this achievement are eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP-BOC) national certification examination.